Santa's Reindeer

What do Santa's reindeer do in the off season, you may wonder. Well, lucky for you, those of us in Alaska know the secret. They hang out, eat lots of fresh green grass, and visit with the locals. Life is good for a reindeer. These pics are from a visit to the reindeer farm last summer.

I'm sure you are familiar with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and the gang. Now you know what a baby reindeer looks like.

They are so cute. The younger ones have a light brown, fuzzy coat. It's their winter coat. As they get a little older and the weather gets warmer, they shed that coat and a sleek, darker brown one emerges. I'm sure it makes them more aerodynamic. It's all about the winter flight, you know.

They love to eat treats, too. The kids gave them some goodies as they passed on their Christmas wish lists to these fellas. I'm sure Santa got the message.

Did you know that all of Santa's reindeer are female? Both female and male reindeer grow antlers during the summer. Male reindeer lose their antlers in November and early December. Female reindeer don't lose their antlers until after they give birth in the Spring.

I hope this helps you get into the holiday season. Merry Christmas!